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Chipped or Broken Tooth Treatment & Repair in Manhattan

When you have a broken tooth or crooked front teeth, you may not feel any pain right away. More than likely, you’ll feel the consequences eventually. Broken tooth pain can be intermittent or constant, delivering mild discomfort, unbearable agony, or even jaw pain. The sooner you undergo broken tooth repair, the lower your risk of developing other painful conditions that require additional treatments. For the best broken tooth or crooked front teeth diagnosis and treatment in Lower Manhattan, call Dr. Alex Shalman. His boutique dental practice makes time for both emergencies and routine exams.

Advances in dental technology have made broken tooth repair more successful. At his boutique dental practice in Downtown NYC, Dr. Alex Shalman assesses the extent of your tooth’s damage. At his state-of-the-art facility, he combines general dentistry with cosmetic procedures for holistic dental care. Your broken tooth treatment may be followed by options to ensure your appearance isn’t affected.

Is a Broken Tooth a Big Deal?

You may know people living with broken teeth, but there are risks associated with a broken or cracked tooth. It can expose the core of the tooth, which consists of a nerve, tissues and blood vessels. When this happens, you can develop a number of conditions, including:

• An excruciating toothache
• Pain and discomfort when eating
• Tooth decay
• An exposed metal filling
• Tooth abscess and infection
• Swollen lymph glands in your neck
• Irritated gums around the cracked tooth
• Poor dietary habits, as you can’t eat some foods
• Bad breath from the decay and infection
• Self-esteem issues and loss of confidence in public due to crooked front teeth

An impact to your teeth may appear to move your teeth, making one or more appear crooked. These crooked front teeth may be damaged below the gum line. Crooked teeth in general also affect your bite, which can cause other complications. If you suffer a broken tooth, don’t ignore it, even if it looks minor.

Is a Broken Tooth Painful?

The amount of damage to a broken tooth determines if you feel any pain. There are two types of broken teeth:

• Chipped tooth. When a small layer of the enamel covering falls off, it’s a chipped tooth. You may have bitten into something hard. In most cases, a chipped tooth doesn’t expose the nerve in the pulp chamber. A big enough chip can lead to sensitivity or pain.
• Cracked or fractured tooth. When a section or the entire tooth cracks down to the root, it’s a cracked tooth. In most cases, the damage exposes the nerve and tissues, leading to excruciating pain and hypersensitivity of the tooth.

Whether your broken tooth is painful or not, consult Dr. Shalman in Lower Manhattan as soon as possible. Early evaluation allows for more effective tooth repair. It also prevents further cracked tooth pain.

What’s the Treatment for a Broken Tooth?

Treatment for your cracked or chipped tooth depends on the extent of the damage, the location of the tooth and other factors. After an assessment, Dr. Shalman recommends the most appropriate treatment for your specific situation. Your options include:

• Ceramic tooth filling. This is the most common form of cracked tooth repair. It strengthens and stabilizes your tooth.
• Tooth reattachment. If you have the broken part of your tooth, your dentist can cement it back in place. Dental bonding. This is a quick and easy way to cover a small, chipped tooth surface. Dr. Shalman shapes and polishes the repaired tooth, hiding the injury.
• Root canal. This procedure may be necessary if a large part of your tooth falls off, exposing the nerve. A root canal saves the tooth.
• Dental crown. After a root canal, your family dentist covers the broken tooth with a protective crown.
• Single tooth implant. If the damage extends to the gum and bone, a tooth extraction may be the best solution. A dental implant replaces the missing tooth.
• Dental veneers. A veneer is a covering for the damaged tooth. It has a natural look that matches nearby teeth.